Adjustable supporting surfaces



April 20, 9 c. E. GINGHER ETAL 3,179,073

ADJUSTABLE SUPPQRTING SURFACES Original Filed Oct. 14, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

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o a K INVENTORS I CARL E. GINGHER CARL E. ewe/45R, ax-

ATTORNEYS April 20, 1965 c. E. GINGHER ETAL v 3,179,073.

, ADJUSTABLE surronmme suRFAcEs Original Filed Oct 14, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CARL E. GINGHER CARL E. GlNGHERf/R.

sY mni n/ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,179,073 ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTING SURFACES Carl E. Gingher and Carl E. Gingher, Jr., Scranton, Pa., assignors to Gingher Manufacturing Co., Scranton, Pa.

Original application Oct. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 62,765, now

Patent No. 3,100,572, dated Aug. 13, 1963. Divided and this application Feb. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 256,437

4 Claims. (Cl. 108-153) The present invention relates to all-purpose adjustable metallic supporting surfaces, more particularly, to uprights, shelf and bracket structures which may be readily assembled into various arrangements to provide adjustable shelving, table surfaces and work tops for numerous operations as may be desired. This application is a division of application Ser. No. 62,765, filed October 14, 1960, now Patent No. 3,100,572.

Although previously, various shelving arrangements were provided, invariably all of these arrangements were characterized by requiring cross braces in order to impart a rigidity to the structure. If cross braces were not employed, the shelf and bracket structures were invariably of complex and cumbersome design in order to adequately support heavy loads thereon. Further, these shelving arrangements were specifically designed as shelves to be used as shelving, namely, for the storage of goods. They were so constructed that when once erected, they could not be readily changed into different shapes as their requirements might desire. Hence, these previous arrangements were not adaptable or versatile for uses other than as shelving. Most of the prior art shelving arrangements were intended as permanent installations. In addition, the complexity of some of the bracket and shelf arrangements was such that it was diflicult and time-consuming to erect these structures. Furthermore, the erection of these shelving arrangements required the use of skilled workmen with special tools.

A problem arose where it was desired to support a number of shelvesfrom a single common upright. This supporting arrangement in most instances involved complicated brackets, shelf and upright arrangements. l These brackets could not be secured to any corner of an upright but usually were designed for mounting on a specific sur-.

face of the upright. Thus, there was lacking a simple arrangement for attaching four shelf corners to a single vertical upright using detachable brackets of a simple structure.

Those few arrangements whichprovided for the attachment of shelves to a common upright usually required different brackets for securing the outer edges of the shelves than for securing the inner corners of the shelves to the common upright. The necessity for these specialized brackets increased the cost of the structure and the time consumed in erecting the shelving arrangement.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide strong, versatile, all-purpose supporting surfaces.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved supporting surface arrangement whereby the surface can be utilized as shelves, work tables, desks, steps, cat-walks, pallets and the like.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a supporting surface arrangement which eliminates crossbraces but which is strong, rigid, and can be readily assembled and, if desired, disassembled.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a supporting surface arrangement comprising uprights and shelves detachably secured to uprights by brackets.

-Other objects and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent upon reference to the accompanying description and the following drawings, wherein FIGURE 1 is an over-all perspective view of the supporting surface arrangement of this invention showing the arrangement utilized as shelving and work surfaces;

FIGURE 2 is an over-all perspective view of the vertical upright employed in 'the supporting surface arrangement;

FIGURE 3 is an over-all perspective view of a modified form of the vertical upright illustrated in FIGURE 2, wherein a double row of holes are used to permit the assembly of units back-to-back;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view looking at the under surface of a shelf;

FIGURE '5 is a transverse sectional view taken across the lines 55 of FIGURE 4 and showing the reinforcing strips on the under surface of the shelf;

FIGURE 6 is an over-all perspective view showing the manner in which four brackets are secured to the corners of a vertical upright in order to permit the securing of four separate shelf cornersto a single vertical upright;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the ends of adjacent shelves showing the slot therebetween;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing a supporting surface arrangement wherein the shelf areasare screened to protect the goods upon the shelves.

a The invention essentially comprises a supporting surface arrangement wherein the shelves are secured to square vertical uprights by brackets which are detachably secured to corners of the uprights. The shelves embody various structural features which enable the shelves to support considerable weight even when unevenly dis-. tributed upon the shelf surface. Various modifications of the bracket are also disclosed for particular applications. The shelf may be either spot-welded to the bracket or a special shelf may be used with a particular form of bracket. r

A further feature of this invention is the manner in which the shelves are reinforced so that the shelves are able to sustain a considerably greater load than conventional reinforced metallic shelves. The specific configuration of the reinforcing strips, the arrangement of the reinforcing strips on the under surface of the shelves, and the manner in which the reinforcing strips are spotwelded to the surfaces of the shelves all contribute to provide a shelf which will sustain up to 300% greater load applied to the center of the shelf. Since these novel shelves can support greater loads and are free from buckling even when forces are applied on the edges of the shelves, the shelves may be usedin many installations where heavy loads are to be supported but where it is desired that the shelf remains perfectly level and does not bend. An example of such an installation is in supporting high grade printing paper where it is desired the paper remain perfectly flat without any curvature therein even when resting upon a shelf for a long time. If there is any curving of the shelf due to the load of paper thereon, this curvature will be imparted to the o to paper. Such'curved fine printing papers are undesirable in high grade printing operations.

For a description of a specific embodiment of this invention, reference is made to FIGURE 1 wherein an over-all shelving arrangement has been assembled to form shelves 1 and a work table 2. The arrangement'cornprises a plurality of vertical uprights of various lengths dependent upon the use of a particular portion of the arrangement. Brackets 4 are detachably secured to the uprights 3, and shelves 5 have'the brackets attached to the corners thereof by spot-welding.

Proceeding next to FIGURE 2, there is illustrated an upright 3 which comprises square tubing formed from cold-rolled steel. There is a single row of holes6 on opposed sides of the upright. Holes on the opposed sides are in alignment with each other. These holes are regularly spaced and here are shown approximately three inches apart, although any other regular spacing may be employed.

A modified form of the upright is illustrated at 7 in FIGURE 3 in that it comprises a'double row of holes illustrated at 8. The upright 7 is used where it is desired to assemble units back-to-back in a manner which will be presently described. V

The shelf 5 is illustrated in FIGURE 4 and is formed from ZO-gauge sheet steel. The shelf comprises a top 9, longitudinal edges 10, and transverse edges 11. All of the edges are rolled' under to form undertur'ned lip or terminal flanges 12. The use of the underturned lips 12 will increase the strength of the shelf by 60% over a a single upright. In this arrangement, an upright 51 has.

a bracket 52 attached to each corner thereof. Theupright is of the two-hole type as illustrated in FIGURE, 3. All of the brackets 52 are similar. A singlebolt is used to secure a pair of brackets to the upright. This bolt passes through a hole in one of the bracket grooves, through the aligned holes in the upright, and through the hole inthe groove of another bracket. Although notillustrated in this figure, the shelves are then attached to the brackets, and the result is a very simple and effective arrangement for attaching four shelf corners to a single vertical upright. 7, I 7

All of the elements of the supporting surface arrangement as described above may be finished in any desired manner, such as by applying a coating of baked enamel which may be of any desired color.

a It is'pointed out that an assembled supporting surface arrangement such as illustrated in FIGURE 1 has a built in fire resistant feature. When a plurality of shelves are assembled in-an arrangement, none of the shelf edges are in contact with each other. As can be seen in FIGURE 7, the edges of the shelves are spaced from each other by the width of .two bracket arms. This spacing arrange ment will form a slot 53 between adjoining edges of the shelves. In actual tests with a sprinkler system, it was found that when the system began operating, the water poured through the slots to form curtains of water between the adjoining edges of shelves. This curtain of' water effectively prevented fires from spreading from'one shelf to another and also permitted the access of water to the lower shelves and under portions of the shelving of the supporting surface arrangement. As a result of this fireresistant feature, itis possible for users of thesupporting surface arrangement to obtain reduced fire coverage rates.

In addition to the various supporting surface arrangements as described above, other applications of these arrangements are possible. Several of these additional arrangements will be described in order to further illustrate the adaptability and versatility of this invention.

In FIGURE 8 there is illustrated a supporting surface arrangement which forms a shelf area with the entire shelf area, except for the fronts which are not shown,

. being covered over with a screening 54 so' as to deny unauthorized access to the material upon the shelves.

The entire assembly of a supporting surface arrangement is secured merely by detachably securing brackets to the corners of uprights by a nut and bolt arrangement. Thus, relatively unskilled personnel with a minimum of tools can quickly assemble a supporting surface arrangement regardless of its shape.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions, and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: r

1. A central support for a sectional metal shelf comprising a center post square in cross-section; four rectangular shelf sections arranged about and supported by said center post; four supporting brackets secured on said post peripherically thereof with side portions of adjacent brackets in face contacting relation; each supporting bracket having a V-shaped portion shaped to fit a corner of the post, each of said rectangular shelf section's having a corner with a V-shaped notch snugly receiving the V- shaped portion of said bracket, said shelf sections having edge portions which extend downwardly and inwardly forming a channel with turned-under lip portions, said bracket comprising a pair of arms which are of substantially the same width as said shelf edge portions and extend outwardly in engagement with said shelf edge portions, saidarms having projections thereon engaging and supporting the bottom of the shelf sections and means for securing the arms to the shelf edges. I

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said post has additional supporting brackets secured thereto in vertically spaced relation to said first named supporting brackets and wherein an additionalshelf is supported in spaced relation to said first named. shelf.

3. A support fora sectional shelf arrangement, and

comprising a post having a square cross-section, four supoutwardly from the respective groove portions in engagement with said shelf'edge portions, there being projections on said arms engaging andsupporting said shelf edge portions, and means for securing said bracket arms to said shelf edge portions.

4. A central support for a sectional metal shelf comprising a center post square in cros ssection, four rec tangular shelf sections arranged about said center post,

four supporting brackets secured onsaid post peripherally thereof with side portions of adjacent brackets in face contacting relation, each supporting bracket having a V- shaped portion shaped to fit a corner of the post, each of said rectangular shelf sections having a corner with a V- shaped notch snugly receiving the V-shaped portion of said bracket, said shelf sections having edge portions which extend downwardly, said bracketcomprising a pair of arms which extend outwardly in engagement with said shelf edge portions, said arms having projections thereon engaging and supporting the bottom of the shelf sections, and means for securing the arms to the shelf edges.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Simmen 211-136 X Sturm 211-135 Ledunka Q. 219-91 Robson 296-822 Meadowcroft 219-91 X Gunn 219-91 Burdick 108-155 Neubaur 211-135 Franks. Gingher. Gottschalk 211-135 Gingher et a1. 211-153 Goldberg 211-135 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CENTRAL SUPPORT FOR A SECTIONAL METAL SHELF COMPRISING A CENTER POST SQUARE IN CROSS-SECTION; FOUR RECTANGULAR SHELF SECTIONS ARRANGED ABOUT AND SUPPORTED BY SAID CENTER POST; FOUR SUPPORTING BRACKETS SECURED ON SAID POST PERIPHERICALLY THEREOF WITH SIDE PORTIONS OF ADJACENT BRACKETS IN FACE CONTACTING RELATION; EACH SUPPORTING BRACKET HAVING A V-SHAPED PORTION SHAPED TO FIT A CORNER OF THE POST, EACH OF SAID RECTANGULAR SHELF SECTIONS HAVING A CORNER WITH A V-SHAPED NOTCH SNUGLY RECEIVING THE VSHAPED PORTION OF SAID BRACKET, SAID SHELF SECTIONS HAVING EDGE PORTIONS WHICH EXTEND DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY FORMING A CHANNEL WITH TURNED-UNDER LIP PORTIONS, SAID BRACKET COMPRISING A PAIR OF ARMS WHICH ARE OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME WIDTH AS SAID SHELF EDGE PORTIONS AND EXTEND OUTWARDLY IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SHELF EDGE PORTIONS, SAID ARMS HAVING PROJECTIONS THEREON ENGAGING AND SUPPORTING THE BOTTOM OF THE SHELF SECTIONS AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE ARMS TO THE SHELF EDGES. 